<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>In a message dated 07/11/2003 01:17:39 GMT Daylight Time, bradbury@aeiveos.com writes:<BR>
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<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">P.S. and it would really be interesting if once the X-prize(s) were<BR>
awarded and pseudo-space travel became reasonable and someone<BR>
figured out when Eugen's birthday was if Extropes collectively<BR>
determined to rain down cake on Eugen's location on such a<BR>
date. I almost cannot imagine Eugen holding up a glass of<BR>
champagne recognizing the cake streaking across the sky<BR>
being forced to raise the cry of "incoming".<BR>
</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
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What would be the terminal velocity of a cake dropped from a low earth orbit?<BR>
How would it differ depending on the material, say Sponge or Fruitcake?<BR>
<BR>
Personally I think there are far too many variables to consider when calculating the decent of a dumb cake. I therefore forward the notion that any orbital cake deployment be of the Eugene Seeking Self guiding variety. Perhaps a large chocolate eclair would be ideal due to the superior aerodynamics. If deployed in a raw cakemix configuration, it should be nicely cooked by the time of impact.<BR>
<BR>
Alex<BR>
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